BIRMINGHAM City manager Alex McLeish has handed Ecuadorean defender Ulises de la Cruz a one month contract after a successful trial at the club.

The 35-year-old, who has appeared 98 times for his country, joins Blues on a deal until 2 April having trained with the club for several weeks.

Subject to Football League confirmation de la Cruz will be available for selection for the visit of Bristol City to St. Andrew’s on Wednesday night (4 March, kick-off 7.45pm). He will wear squad number 27.

De la Cruz can play as a full-back on either side of defence or in midfield. He began his career in his home country before moving to SPL side Hibernian in 2001.

Following a season at Easter Road, de la Cruz moved down to England to join Villa, where he spent four years, before making the switch to Steve Coppell's Reading in 2006.

He made 23 appearances for the Royals, before being released in the summer of 2008.